As the creator of an original concept, you may have heard of and possibly looked into a copyright. But a lesser-known yet equally effective form of legal protection is something known as a copyleft. The two are commonly confused with one another, especially considering the similarity of their names. Well, read on to discover the difference between a copyright versus a copyleft and how a seasoned New Jersey copyright lawyer at The Ingber Law Firm can help you choose which legal protection to pursue.
What is the difference between a copyright versus a copyleft?
On the one hand, a copyright is a legal framework that may allow you, the creator of an original piece of work, to maintain exclusive rights over it. Specifically, with the protection of the United States copyright law, you may reproduce your original work, distribute copies of it, perform or display it publicly, or adapt derivatives of it in any way you desire. At the same time, you may be guaranteed public recognition and monetary compensation for your efforts.
On the other hand, a copyleft is a licensing approach that may allow a third party to use, modify, and distribute your original work freely. However, these rights may only be granted so long as the derivative works are released under the same license and the third party complies with other terms and conditions. With this, your exclusive rights over your work may still be protected and maintained. Uniquely, a copyleft essentially works by using copyright laws to start.
One key thing to note about a copyleft license is that it ensures derivative works are shared under similar open conditions. For example, if a third party uses, modifies, and distributes a certain work, they must allow others to access this derivative work and use, modify, and distribute it in their own way. Therefore, a continuous cycle of collaboration is promoted.
How do I know which type of protection to choose?
Copyright protection may be particularly relevant if your original work belongs to more traditional industries such as publishing, music, art, film, etc. This is because your ownership over this work may directly affect your monetary compensation and intellectual property rights. In this case, you may want to maintain full control over it.
But you may lean more towards copyleft protection if you belong to the software industry. After all, the copyleft concept originated in this industry, as software developers were working toward ensuring that their code could be openly sourced, freely used, and modified for improvement by others. In fact, the Free Software Foundation established the General Public License for copyleft licensing. That said, a copyleft is in your best interest if you work in any field where collaboration is encouraged.
There is no need to remain hesitant when you have a competent Essex County, New Jersey intellectual property lawyer on your side and supporting you. So please inquire with us at The Ingber Law Firm at your earliest possible opportunity.
